Folding cot structure



Nov. 4, 1952 L. B. LOVE 2,616,098

FOLDING COT STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 25. 1949 Znwentor LEM/YD 5'. Lot .5 By W M6.

(Ittornegs Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING COT STRUCTURE Leland B. Love, Memphis, Tenn.

Application December 23, 1949, Serial No. 134,713

- 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a folding cot or bed structure, particularly adapted for use in connection with automobiles, which structure is adapted to be unfolded and supported as by the backs of the automobile seats, and which may be folded and collapsed into a compact easily handled package, and placed in'the trunk compartment of the automobile, or conveniently disposed within the body of the car should that be found more desirable. 1

It particularly relates to a structure which will form a support for a mattress or other cushioning pad, thestructure being made up of parts which are hinged together in edge abutting relation for folding along the longitudinal center of the structure and for transverse-folding' into a relatively short, narrow and compact package for transportation or storage, which structure when unfolded will bridge between the backs or the back and front seat and will cantilever forwardly of the back of the front seat.

It preferably is a structure of width to take upsubstantially one half of the car width and allow use of the other half bya driver and passenger.

The objects of the invention are:

To provide a folding structure adapted to be supported by and bridge between the tops of the front and back seats of an automobile and to cantilever forwardly of the front seat;

To provide a bed structure to be supported by the tops of automobile seats which is longitudinally and transversely collapsible into a narrow, short and compact package;

To provide a substantially rigidsupporting structure longitudinally and transversely foldable, which is adapted when extended to form a support for a mattress or other surfacing pad. The means by which the foregoing and other objects of this'invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood'from the following specification upon reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the structure without surfacing pad fully extended. v

v Fig. 2 is a. side elevation of the structure in extended and supported position with a; superposed pad indicated. I

. Fig. 3 is ane'levational .viewoifthe' structure collapsed and folded into a compact package for carrying or 'for'storage.

Fig. 4 is a corresponding top view or plan of .the collapsed structure; and

Fig.3 a corresponding "and View.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line VIVI of Fig. 1, showing on an enlarged scale one of the hinge connections between the two main body portions of the structure with an interposed resilient cushioning member between the abutting ends of these sections and under compressive stress.

Fig. '7 is a companion view showing the hinge joint partially open and the cushioning member before compression.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the cushioning member taken on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. '1; and

Fig. 9 is a further enlarged view of the handle shown in Fig. 5, particularly showing a tension spring added thereto.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals:

The structure comprises a pair of leg sections I2, M; a pair of body sections l6, l8; and a pair of head sections 20, 22. The leg sections l2, l4 are respectively hinged in end abutting relation to the ends of the body sections l6, 18 by hinges 24 which underlie the sections. The opposite ends of the body sections I6, l8 are respectively hinged in end abutting relation to the head sections 20 22 by hinges 26 which overlie the sections, forming substantially identical, though opposite, structure halves.

The two halves of the structure are hinged together along the longitudinal edges of the leg sections [2, l4 only, by hinges 28 which overlie the sections. The ends of the head and body sections abut when the head sections are in extended position, and cantilever the head sections from the body sections. The leg and body sections l2, l6, and the leg and body sections l4, [8 are respectively spaced slightly apart at their proximate ends and resilient cushioning members 30 are interposed therebetween. The cushioning members preferably are lengths of rubber hose 32 each respectively enclosing similar lengths of coil spring 34, these cushioning members being interposed between the proximate ends of the sections and cooperating with the underlying hinges to effect a bridging joint therebetween, and give resilient support when the structure is supported in use position. The head sections 20, 22, when in extended position, are held together by a, latch 36 which is pivotally connected as by a pin '38 to one of the sections as the head section 22 and is provided with a notch 36A which is engaged with a complemen- 'tary pin 40, carried by the other head section "20," and when latched cooperates with'theleg section hinges 28 to prevent the halves of the structure from spreadin apart.

The body sections I 6, l8, and their respectively related head sections 20, 22 may be provided with slidable latch pins 42 and complementary latch sockets 44 for securing the head sections against the body sections when in folded or collapsed position. Eyes 46 preferably are secured into the outer edges of the body sections I6, I8 approximately a't'the center of their length and a carrying handle 48 is provided which may be engaged with the eyes when the structure has been folded, this handle preferably being permanently attached to one or the other of the eyes, Anchor members 50 are secured to and depend from the under sides of the leg sections adjacent their free ends, these members engaging the rear side of the seat back to prevent forward displacement of the structure.

For use, the structure is unfolded to full width and length and may be supported in an automobile by resting the extended structureon the tops of the backs 52, 54 'of-the front and rear seats with the anchor members 50 engaged behind the upper edge of the rear seat back, and the head sections 26, 22 extending forwardly of the back 52 of the front seat in cantilevered position, and a mattress or cushioning pad 56 is laid on the structure. In use the cushioned joint between the leg and body sections adds resilience to the st ucture.

For; transportation or storage, the mattress or pad 56 is removed and separately rolled into a compact package. Iihe head sections 28, 22 are folded upward and backward about the hinges 26 against the body sections IS, IS and are secured theretoby engagement of the latch pins 42 with the sockets 44, and the latch 38" is :disengaged. One of the halves of the structure is then folded over about the hinges 28 on the other thereof, and the head and body sections of the folded over half are then folded back on the related leg about the hinges 24, the partially foldedstructure is then turned over and the re maining head and body sections similarly folded back; against the related leg sections. The handle 48 is engaged With the eyes 36 tohold hq edges of the folded structure opposite the hinges together, completing with the hinged edges, a securely held package. If desired, as shown in Fig. 9, the handle may be supplemented by a, tension spring 53 to snugly hold that edge f h s uc ure tog er.

.I willeb u der o that Wh t e t ucture is particularly adapted for use in an automobile and support by thev seat backs that' it is admirably adapted for other support and use.

1. ,A unitary, articulated structure, adapted to befolded into a compact package for carrying or adapted to be unfolded for support by the backsof theseats of an automobile and adapted to carry a cot pad thereon; said structure-0cm prising, complementary halves, of equal thickness throughout their lengths and widths, each said 'hal f .including a bodysection havinga length in excess of one half thedistance between said seat backs, a leg section of'substantially equal leng'th, and a head section of less length; underlying hinges securing said leg sectionin end abutting relation to one end of said body section establishing a major. structure portion adapted to bridge said seat backs; overlying hinges securing saidhead section in end abutting relatig t the ppo'site I ndpf sa d bcdy sec on providing a cantilevering portion, to provide bed length halves; and overlying hinges securing side edges of said leg sections together in edge abutting relation, and effecting said unitary structure.

2. A unitary, folding structure adapted to be folded into a compact package for carryin or adapted to be unfolded for support by the backs of the seats of an automobile and adapted to carry a bed length cot pad thereon; said structure comp sin mrleme r balr io uniform thicknessthroughout their lengths and breadt'hs; each said half including a center section having a length in excess of one half the span between said backs, a second section of substantially equal length, and a third section not exceeding such length;- underlying hinges securin said second seeti ons in end abutting relation to one end of said'center sectionto form a back bridging porti n overIying hinges securing said third section in end abutting relatidn to the opposite end of saidv center sectiontq form. a cantileverin portion. where y to provide bed lengt h resi'ove 'y n h nges scouri g "d edges of sai secon e bl s'tse herin bu t ng el t n; la h e s secured und r-15 mg r a on a d 'Ie. Q 3 said ird sections and. adapted fo engagement thth th. i S id t rclfi ti n h aid s ructur s to h ld sa d third se ions a ds i alves in edgcabuamg re ati nma d downwardly extending-anchormeinbers adjafc ,nt e fr e, ends otsaid. se ond e tion adage; to. n a e t e. b k Qfthe s id al a na ward di pl cement.) and :asmd'gemenmr aid structure irorn said rearseatback. u d s ructure. ada ted to pa package f ca rj i g or ed tabs unf lded .rnsup e-i y the b cks o ths seat 9 e autom bile an a ap d n ar ry c .ead.,.ihere. said s ruc r cc ris ns complement halves. bf'e ual h cknes throughout heir lengths and widths, each said h lt inc uding a qdnsect n h v ng a'leng h in 639 .5, 0f ba f he d g-tancebe een aid backs. a ;e. 9 id,. s c ion of su an ia y qual length, and a third section "of less length; uh? y g hinges s. ing a d, sewed semenna end 'o said bady afm or. stru i P ion e aid' eat backs. a e uri e t ird section in n abutting relation'to'th oh e' te nd "o s id "bo y g f ed e a ut n e ation, i g st i unita tructu s havi. 7 @wnw aa; ext nd n 0 a l mpad' package for. ca t ing radarit 'c to ,be ufifcl'de for u port by the backs. f he seatsioflan ut o e a d adapted ,to parry a, c P thereon; sai $truQ- im comp i g-ccg ple nenta r alves; when half including a center section, having a length in excess at one a the stan e be ween s d s ing hinges securing side edges of said second sections together in edge abutting relation, latch means secured in underlying relation to one said third section and, adapted when said structure is unfolded to hold said third sections in edge abuta ting relation, and downwardly extending anchor members adjacent the free ends of said second sections adapted to engage the seat back supporting said second section against forward displacement and dislodgement of said structure from 10 said back.

LELAND B. LOVE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 15 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Long Sept. 18, 1917 Groverman Feb. 5, 1918 Brungard Mar. 18, 1919 Resch July 11, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Mar. 19, 1936 

